Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Review + Giveaway: Guest Post: A Toy that Hugs is the Best Medicine

WHAT: Toys Are Tools First Ever Guest Post with ReviewDOES: Opportunity for us to get to know a very helpful book.INVEST:$9-12 (depending on retailer); Chair: $85

AGES: For the Grown-ups

GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Get Your Own HowdaHug chair.

From Jenn:
Seven years ago, I checked myself into the E.R. because I thought I was having a heartattack. It made no sense because my blood pressure and cholesterol levels were always good. But my chest was hurting and I could barely breathe.

But it wasn't a heart attack. Acutally, it was a panic attack. I think the stress of having Number 1 and Number 2 with all of the "not normal" and yet "advanced" things they were doing were making me crazy. I don't do well with mixed messages. I started to wonder how bad were my kids' problems and was I good enough to deal with them? I decided to answer this question by writing a blog and through that I met others like me who wanted open dialogue on this issue. With each blog post, we attempted to wash off all shame and fear and opened up our private lives in hopes that we'd be helped by being helpful.

One person I met on this journey turned out to be extremely helpful, building a support blog serving thousands of parents of children with ADHD. She has since moved on to let her branches grow higher and wider. The publication of her book is just one of many achievements she has made. Expect more from Penny Williams in the future, a woman I am so proud to call my friend.

My
son, Ricochet, has ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Dysgraphia, and a
high IQ. I’ve been searching for the right support tools and toys for him since
his diagnosis in 2008. It’s difficult to find toys and tools that hold his
interest and support his challenges. Science, geometric, and building toys are
his top interests. But, even when he’s highly interested, it’s sometimes hard
to sustain attention and stick with something for an adequate period of time.
Part of that is his ADHD, but part of it is also his need for consistent
sensory stimulation, due to sensory processing disorder.

Toys
that challenge Ricochet’s brain and continually stimulate his senses are ideal.
Hard to come by, but ideal. Video games are the obvious match, and Ricochet
loves them and is very skilled at them. However, too much screen time is not best,
so we keep searching for alternatives.

photo: HowdaDesignz

One
day a few years ago, I discovered the HowdaHUG chair. The creator’s description
sounded like a miracle for my squirmy, excitable kid:

♥HUGS provide smooth rocking. {Maybe this will end the need to lean back
in chairs.}

♥HUGS are lightweight and
portable, great for home, school, or wherever kids need a supportive embrace! {Awesome! He can bring it to and from school
every day!}

I was
skeptical that this little chair could live up to its extraordinary
description, and I was disappointed by the price. I got one anyway though,
desperate to help my Ricochet with his challenges.

He was
squirmiest when reading, so that is the first time we tried it. I held it open
so he could get in. We pulled the straps tighter so the slats would hug his
body. Ricochet loved that tight squeeze and asked me to keep tightening it
until he looked like a little burrito. He opened his book (a Magic Treehouse book), leaned back, and
began reading. I walked away to give him some quiet.

Ten
minutes went by and I hadn’t heard a peep. That was odd since he badgered me
constantly during his reading time, “Am I done yet? How much longer? When can I
be done? I don’t want to read anymore.” I peeked around the corner to find him
rocking lightly and engrossed in his book. He wasn’t kicking his feet up in the
air, twirling his hair, or biting his fingers. It seemed he wasn’t losing his
place on the page as often either. This
chair is a miracle, I thought.

The author, Penny Williams

I
again left him alone to finish his reading. Back then, in second grade, they
were required to read twenty minutes a day. He had an accommodation to only
read fifteen, since it was such a struggle to sustain his attention reading for
any longer.

After forty-five minutes, I went in and approached
him. “You have been reading for forty-five minutes, Buddy!”

The
very next day, he rolled up his HowdaHUG, put it in his backpack, and took it
to school. His teacher saw a difference in his attention, too. I had finally
found a tool that actually helped my child with his ADHD and other challenges! Woot!

I
tried so many toys and tools that promised increased focus before that, and
many since, but we never saw measurable improvement, except with the HowdaHUG.
I know this may sound like a rave review simply to sell a lot of chairs, but
it’s not. My overwhelming positivity about the HowdaHUG is genuine. I promise. This
is a must-have tool for kids with inattention and sensory challenges. This
chair is worth its weight in gold to our family!

The
fine ladies at HowdaDesignz are giving away a HowdaHUG to
one lucky Toys Are Tools reader.
Complete the steps in the Rafflecopter below to be entered for a chance to win
one of these fantastic little chairs for your child.

Disclosure:Toys
are Tools was not compensated by the manufacturers of anything mentioned here for the publication
of this review. The reviewed items were provided to Toys are Tools to
facilitate a review. Reviews are never promised. This story should not be used in place of clinical treatment.

Mine can't read yet, but he totally concentrated better when running around/fidgeting/playing with something in his hands . This chair could be such a godsend for his next year when he starts Kindergarten !